Automatic switch



Dec. 21 1926. 1,611,405

I E. A. BEEBE AUTOMATIC SWITCH 7 Filed Au ust l, 1921 69 I O l0 6| JaarABeeZe STATES Q Patented Dec.

UNITED EDGAR A. BEEBE, OF DOWNEY, IDAHO.

AUTGMATIG SWITCH.

Application filed August 1, 12-21.

This invention relates to charging systems for storage batteries, andparticularly to systems which prevent complete discharge of thebatteries before the recharging commences.

One object of the invention is to provide a switch which is associatedwith an amperehour meter, and by means of which the operation ofrecharging is begun before the battery can, become fully discharged.

Another object is to provide a switch 01 this character which isoperated automatically by the ampere-hour meter.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will. he understood tromthe following description.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a View showing a storage battery, ampere hour meter andautomatic cut out repr nted diagrammatically in proper cor-elation with.a load to effect the object of the present invention Figure 2 anenlarged plan view of the ampere-hour meter.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the meter, a portion of which is brokenaway.

Referring now to the drawings there is shown at a storage battery havingthe usual terminals 11 and 12.

In connection with the storage battery is illustrated diagrammatically aload represented by a series of lamps 18 in multiple between the loadcircuit wires 14: and 15 of which the latter leads to the batteryterminal 12 throu h the automatic cut out which will be later described.

The load circuit wire 15 leads to the switch arm 16 of an automaticelectric cut out, to be presently more particularly described and theterminal contact plate 17 of which is movable with the arm into and outof contact with a fixed contact plate 18. The contact 18 is connected bya wire 19 with one terminal 01 an ampere hour meter 20 to be presentlymore particularly eX- plained and from the other terminal of which leadsa wire 21 to the terminal 12 of the storage battery. \Vith thisarrangement it will be understood that so long as the plates 17 and 18are in mutual contach the load will be in circuit with the storagebattery, and that when the arm 1o moves to carry its contact plate 17from eng with the contact plate 18, the circu. the storage battery willbe broken.

Serial No. 489,032.

Through the medium of a circuit closer actuated by the ampere hourmeter, there is closed a shunt circuit across the load, and which shuntcircuit includes the actuating electro-magnet of the cut-out. Of thesemechanisms the automatic cut out will be first described in constructionand operation.

The automatic cut-out includes an electromagnet- 18, having the pivotedarmature 36, provided with the hooked end for engagement with the rocker32. A flexible metallic contact arm 16 is mounted for engagement by theroller 3a, of one end of the rocker 32, and has a contact tip 17 on itsfree end for engagement with a stationary contact 18. The wire 15, ofthe load circuit 13 is connected with the fixed end of the flexible arm16, as shown at 25, while the ends of the coil of the electromagnet 48are connected respectively to the binding posts and 56, said wires beingindicated at and 59, respectively. A wire is also connected with thepost 25, and is connected with the switch which will be moreparticularly described later herein, in connection with the amperehourmeter.

To elfect energization of the eleet-ro-magnet when the battery chargehas dropped to a predetermined condition, there is placed in circuitbet-ween the contact plate 18 and the terminal 12 of the storagebattery, the ampere hour meter 20 that includes a hand 53 that traversesa dial 73, the hand serving to effect closure of the shunt circuitacross the load and in this shunt circuit the winding of theelectromagnet 48 is included. For this purpose, one terminal of theelectro-magnet as is connected by means of a wire 60 with thebefore-mentioned binding screw 25, thus connecting one terminal of themagnet winding with one side of the load through the load circuit wire15. The other terminal of the electro-magnet winding is connected by awire 59 to the screw 56, which screw is passed through the insulatingplate and through the bushing 57, in the base plate 23, that is providedwith a binding nut 58 for retaining one end of the wire 60, the otherend of said wire 60 being connected with a spring contact finger 61mounted on an insulating base 62 that is in turn carried by a ring 63that is rotatably mounted on the meter 20, coaxial to the meter hand 58so that this insulating base may be angularly adjusted about the axis ofthe meter hand, for purpose to be presently explained. Piyoted upon theinsulating base 62 is an insulating block 6 from one end of whichextends a switch con tact arm 65 against which the spring contact linger61 bears in elect ical contact with it, the linger 61 serving to urgethe contact read 66 ot' the contact arm against a contact plate 6'? thatis fixed upon the base 62. The contact plat-e is connected by a wire 68with'the load circuit wire i l, in the diagram, and thence to tl ebattery terminal 11. Thus it will be seen, that when the switch arm 65engages the contact 6?, th shunt circuit is closed through theelectro-magnet, which is energizec tomove the latch to its inoperativeposition and release the switch arm 16, when the Contact 17 moves fromthe contact 18 and both the latch circuit and the shunt circuit arebroken.

In order that the closing or the shunt circuit may be controlled by theposition of the meter arm 53, the spindle oi the meter that carries thearm, has a radial recess 70 a d upon the periphery of this spindle,outwardly of the arm there bears the laterally directed free end 71 ofthe linger 7:2 that is carried also by the insulating block 64 andextends therefrom in the opposite direction from the contact arm 65. Solong as the extremity 'Zl of the finger 72 is upon the cylindricalperiphery of the spindle 69, the lever 65 is held with its head 66 outof contact with the plate 61 l lhenever the spindle moves to position toreceive the portion '3 1 within the radial recess *50, the lever 35 willbe permitted to swing; to engage its head 66 with the contact plate 67under the influence of the spring finger 61, which will be readilyunderstood.

The ampere hour meter includes a dial 73 desired number on the dial, themechanism will operate to close the shunt circult and eti'ect operationof the out out when the charge condition oi? the battery corresponds.

When the battery is again to be recharged, the oper tor raises the arm 12 from the notch '70, and rotates the hand back to zero, or some otherpoint near Zero, corresponding to the amount the current in the battery.The a edar end 71 of the arm will then rest on the peripheral face ofthe spindle or arbor of the hand.

What is claimed is:

The combination with, of an amperehour meter including; a dial and nandfor traversin dial, the hand having a notch in its arbor, of ring;ustahle the dial of the meter and ha ing a marl: arranged to be disposedopposite one of the ndicating marlrs of the dial, a support carried byand ei-ztending dially from the ring and movable therewith, a pair ofcontacts mounted on the support, one of the contacts being flexible, aninsulated rocker monntcf ried by and 1o said i one end engagi n' thearbor and terminally termed with a projection arranger to enter saidnotch upon the hand reaching a predetermined point on the d and acontact linger extending from the other end of the roclrer letween saidpair or contacts, and normally urged by the flexible contact toward theother contact.

In testimony wher of, I aliix my signature.

EDGAR A. BEEBE.

circularly around,

